Late First Half Goals Cost Sarsfields

Playing into a gale the first half objective was to contain the opposition and for twenty nine first half minutes Sarsfields had succeeded on that front. Early in the match Sarsfields had hit over two points and thanks to wasteful Culloville attacking the match was fairly even. Assisted by the conditions the home side edged ahead, but a three point lead as half time approached looked unlikely to be enough. A good Cullaville move seconds from the end of normal time led to a well taken goal. Disappointing yes, but what was to come was calamitous. A sideline ball went through a Highmoss defenders hands in the square and was collected by a greatful Cullaville forward who blasted the ball to the net to the sound of the half time whistle. The home side led by nine points at this stage.

Sarsfields got off to a good start with a superb individual Paul McGaughey goal, however they failed to capitalise on this start. I wasn't until midway through the half that Sarsfields began to claw back the deficit. Four unanswered Richie Stevenson frees had pulled it back to three points. Cullaville hit over a point but Sarsfields came back with a Paul McGaughey point and a Richie Stevenson free. As time ran out Richie Stevenson dropped a ball into the square. The home keeper collected the ball then spilled it and the ball crashed to the net, but the goal was disallowed. A further attempt on a goal was fisted over for a point, denying the chance of a much needed goal. As it was both teams could only manage two points into the wind.